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'{{Short description|Islamic term for awareness of God}} {{italic title}} {{confusing|date=April 2012}} {{Islam}} [[File:At-Taqwa Mosque.JPG|thumb|A [[At-Taqwa Mosque|mosque]] in [[Dayuan District|Dayuan]], [[Taiwan]] is named after the word ''Taqwa''.]] '''''Taqwa''''' ({{lang-ar|تقوى}} ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|taqwā}} / {{transliteration|ar|ALA|taqwá}}'') is an Islamic term for being conscious and cognizant of God, of truth, "[[piety]], fear of [[God in Islam|God]]."<ref name="EOI2"/><ref>Nanji, Azim. "Islamic Ethics," in ''A Companion to Ethics'', Peter Singer. Oxford: Blackwells (1991), pp. 106&ndash;118.</ref> It is often found in the Quran. Those who practice ''taqwa'' — in the words of [[Ibn Abbas]], "believers who avoid [[Shirk (Islam)|Shirk]] with [[Allah]] and who work in His obedience"<ref name="Al-Muttaqin"/> — are called '''''muttaqin''''' ({{lang-ar|لْ المُتَّقِين}} ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|al-muttaqin}}''). ==Definitions== The word “Taqwã” is derived from the verb waqã ({{lang-ar|[[wikt:وقى|وقى]]}}), which literally means to preserve, protect, safeguard, shield, etc. The Arabic word taqwa means "forbearance, fear and abstinence."<ref name="AHYA"/> Some descriptions of the term from Islamic sources include: *"God consciousness ... piousness, fear of Allah, love for Allah, and self restraint".<ref name="IslamicDict"/> *"God-consciousness or God-fearing piety", "virtue", "wariness".<ref name="ODI"/> *Fear of Allah, "being careful, knowing your place in the cosmos". "Proof" of Taqwa is the "experience of awe" of God, which "inspires a person to be on guard against wrong action" and eager to do the things which please Allah.<ref name="GIT"/> *literally "to protect". In general, to protect yourself "from the Wrath of Allah" by not "indulging in things that Allah forbids".<ref name="Haq"/> *"a high state of heart, which keeps one conscious of Allah's presence and His Knowledge." Taqwa motivates the person who possesses it "to perform righteous deeds" and avoid forbidden activities.<ref name="AHYA"/> *According to Erik Ohlander, in Quranic Arabic, ''taqwa'' refers to fear of God in terms of protecting oneself from displeasing God.<ref name="Ohlander"/> ==Theological interpretation== According to [[Tafsir ibn Kathir]], the root meaning of taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes. It was reported that [[Umar bin Khattab]] asked [[Ubayy ibn Ka'b]] about Taqwa. Ubayy said, "Have you ever walked on a path that has thorns on it?" Umar said, "Yes." Ubayy asked, "What did you do then?" to which Umar replied, "I rolled up my sleeves and struggled." Ubayy said, "That is taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life's dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin."<ref name="maeotgq-63"/> ==Taqwa and the Qur'an== According to Erik Ohlander, the word ''taqwa'' is used in the Qur'an over 100 times.<ref name="Ohlander"/> According to the ''Oxford Dictionary of Islam'', the word ''taqwa'' and its derivatives appear "more than 250 times" in the Qur'an.<ref name="ODI"/> The [[Imperative mood#Hebrew and Arabic|imperative form]] of taqwa is found in the phrase ''[[Ittaqullah]]'' ("fear God" or "be aware of Allah"), which is in a number of verses. ===Benifits of Taqwa in the Quran=== There are many benifits of taqwa descrived in Quran, the most important is described in Sura [[at-Talaq]] Q.65:2-3 that, to [[Muttaqin]], [[Allah|God]] will give solutions to their problems and will give provision (''[[Razzaq|Rizq]]'') from unimaginable source.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baig |first1=Mirza Yawar |title=Understanding Islam - 52 Friday Lectures: Keys to Leveraging the Power of Allah in Your Life |date=2 October 2012 |publisher=Standard Bearers Academy |isbn=978-1-4793-0418-9 |url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=zy7Sn3ZsF6oC&pg=PA384&dq=taqwa+way+imagine&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjs8-nh0MuDAxVth_0HHUmoCkYQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=taqwa%20way%20imagine&f=false |access-date=7 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rahman |first1=Afzalur |title=Muhammad ﷺ Encyclopædia of Seerah: Volume 7 |date=1 January 1989 |publisher=Seerah Foundation |isbn=978-0-907052-85-2 |url=https://books.google.com.bd/books?id=kvPpEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT339&dq=taqwa+way+imagine&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkrOT_0suDAxVL2DgGHZHTAO0Q6AF6BAgFEAM |access-date=7 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> {{Quote|And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out And will provide for him from where he does not expect.|[[At-Talaq]] Q.65:2-3}} Another benifit is, according to Sura [[al-Anfal]] Q.8:29, to [[Muttaqin]], God will give them ''"[[Furqan]]"'' or [[conscience|conscientious]] [[intellect]] by which they can differentiate between right and wrong.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Azzam |first1=Dr Abdullah |title=DEFENSE OF THE MUSLIM LANDS The first Obligation After Iman |publisher=Islamic Books |url=https://books.google.com.bd/books?id=EDoeN1r3PjQC&pg=PT50&dq=taqwa+furqan&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQk-3y08uDAxU4nmMGHXrACds4KBDoAXoECAIQAw |access-date=7 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The Quran mentions a number of virtues that cultivate taqwa or that taqwa cultivates in a person: Q.2:283 mentions the keeping of trusts (''amana'');<ref name="cite quran|2|283|s=ns">{{cite quran|2|283|s=ns}}</ref> Q.3:76 faithfulness (''al-wafa'');<ref name="cite quran|3|76|s=ns">{{cite quran|3|76|s=ns}}</ref> Q.3:186 patience (''al-sabr'').<ref name="cite quran|3|186|s=ns">{{cite quran|3|186|s=ns}}</ref> Q.7:96,<ref name="cite quran|7|96|s=ns">{{cite quran|7|96|s=ns}}</ref> Q.10:63-64,<ref name="cite quran|10|63-4|s=ns">{{cite quran|10|63-4|s=ns}}</ref> Q.39:10<ref name="cite quran|39|10|s=ns">{{cite quran|39|10|s=ns}}</ref> relate taqwa to the good life (''hasanat'') on this earth besides reward in the hereafter. Q.65:3<ref name="cite quran|65|3|s=ns">{{cite quran|65|3|s=ns}}</ref> relates taqwa to material ease in this life even where the believer does not expect it.<ref name="Khan2013"/> ==Taqwa and fiqh== In at least one popular work of ''[[fiqh]]'' (Islamic jurisprudence), the "Book of Taqwa", (i.e. the section on taqwa) deals with "knowledge of what is [[Haraam]] (forbidden), [[Makruh]] (discouraged) and doubtful" in an assortment of matters beyond "the pillars of Islam". These include: foods, dress, things having to do with sex ("private matters"), kinds of sporting contests, music, gossip, bad mouthing, bad company, beard trimming, etc.<ref name="Minhu"/> ==Sufism== Taqwa is an important concept in [[Sufism]].<ref name="Berger"/> The 10th-century [[Sufi]] scholar [[Al-Qushayri]], in his ''Epistle'' (''[[Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya]]''), writes about three parts of ''taqwa'': "full trust in God with respect to what has not been granted to him; full satisfaction with what has been granted to him; and full patience with respect to what has eluded him."<ref name="Qusairi-126"/> In Sufism, taqwa has several degrees. The first degree or rank is that of the common people. This rank shuns anything associated with God. In other words, the common people participate in taqwa by simply avoiding shirk. The second degree or rank of taqwa are the elect who shun sins. The final rank is that of the prophets who avoid attributing acts to anyone other than God — "in other words, their fear comes to them from Him and is [directed] to Him."<ref name="Qusairi-128"/> The highest rank are those who distance themselves from everything that separates them from God, for one of the main goals in Sufism is to get closer to God, because in Sufi thought the state of being separate from God is a privation equivalent to the torments of [[Jahannam|hell]]. The master-disciple relationship is one of great importance within Sufi practice. Taqwa is greatly valued within this relationship. God-fearing piety is seen as great religious devotion because it allows for "unhesitating obedience for the order's superior." In other words, if one can blindly follow his master, then he should be able to blindly follow God. Taqwa then leads to a lack of questioning authority, for the disciple submits to those with greater power than him. This submission reminds the disciple of God's power making the disciple a more devout worshipper of God.<ref name="EOI"/> == See also == * [[Tawakkul]] ==References== <references> <ref name="AHYA">{{cite web |title=TAQWA: Fearing Allah |url=http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=154 |website=AHYA.ORG - Authentic Islamic Resources and Information |access-date=2015-08-03 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131052/http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=154 |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref> <ref name="Al-Muttaqin">{{cite web |title=The Meaning of Al-Muttaqin |url=http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=453&Itemid=36 |website=Quran Tafsir Ibn Kathir |access-date=2015-08-04}}</ref> <ref name="Berger">Berger, Lutz. "[http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/fear-of-god-and-hope-for-gods-mercy-in-sufism-COM_27081 Fear of God and Hope (for God's mercy) (in Sufism)]." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Brill Online, 2013. Reference. Augustana. 26 April 2013</ref> <ref name="EOI">"Taḳwā." [http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/takwa-COM_1457 Encyclopaedia of Islam], Second Edition. Brill Online, 2013. Reference. Augustana. 26 April 2013</ref> <ref name="EOI2">[http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/tak-wa-COM_1457?s.num=1&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-2&s.q=takwa "Taḳwā"],''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]'' (2012).</ref> <ref name="GIT">{{cite book |author=Anwer Mahmoud Zanaty |title=Glossary Of Islamic Terms |publisher=IslamKotob |page=221 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dIuuyj9lpXoC&pg=PA221 |access-date=2015-07-15}}</ref> <ref name="Haq">{{Cite web|url=https://haqislam.org/taqwa/|title=Taqwa|date=November 13, 2012}}</ref> <ref name="IslamicDict">{{cite web |title=Taqwa |url=http://www.islamic-dictionary.com/index.php?word=Taqwa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917211253/http://www.islamic-dictionary.com/index.php?word=Taqwa |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-17 |website=Islamic-Dictionary.com |access-date=2015-07-15}}</ref> <ref name="Khan2013">{{cite book |author=Muhammad Akram Khan |title=What Is Wrong with Islamic Economics?: Analysing the Present State and Future Agenda |date=2013 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr36Gd1X_rcC&pg=PA178 |access-date=2015-03-26 |ref=WIWWIE2013 |page=96|isbn=9781782544159 }}</ref> <ref name="maeotgq-63">{{cite book |author=Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman |title=The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Quran |publisher=MSA Publication Limited |date=2009 |page=63 |isbn=9781861797636 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yLKkvUGFP34C&pg=PA63 |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> <ref name="Minhu">''Essential Hanafi Handbook of Fiqh'', A Translation of ''Qazi Thanaa Ullah's Ma La Budda Minhu'', by [[Maulana Yusuf Talal Ali al-Amriki]], (Kazi Publications, Lahore, Pakistan), p.150-168</ref> <ref name="Ohlander">Erik S. Ohlander. "Fear of God (taqwa) in the Qur'an: Some Notes on Semantic Shift and Thematic Context." Journal of Semitic Studies 50.1 (2005): 137-52. Print.</ref> <ref name="ODI">{{cite book |editor=John L. Esposito |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Islam |date=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=314 |isbn=978-0-19-975726-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E324pQEEQQcC&pg=PA314 |access-date=2015-07-15}}</ref> <ref name="Qusairi-126">126. Qušairī, ʻAbd-al-Karīm Ibn-H̲awāzin Al-. Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism: Al-Risala Al-qushayriyya Fi 'ilm Al-tasawwuf. Reading: Garnet Publ., 2007. Print.</ref> <ref name="Qusairi-128">128. Qušairī, ʻAbd-al-Karīm Ibn-H̲awāzin Al-. Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism: Al-Risala Al-qushayriyya Fi 'ilm Al-tasawwuf. Reading: Garnet Publ., 2007. Print.</ref> </references> * {{cite book |author1=Ames Ambros |author2=Stephan Procházka |title=A Concise Dictionary of Koranic Arabic |publisher=Reichert Verlag |year=2004 |isbn=3-89500-400-6 |page=294}} ==External links== * [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/002.qmt.html#002.002 Canonical definition of those who have Taqwa in The Qur'an Sura 2 Signs 2-5] [[Category:Islamic theology]] [[Category:Quranic words and phrases]]'